4-Day Trekking Around Llanganuco Santa Cruz

Day 1: Huaraz – Vaqueria - Paria

Driving further north to the trail-head we'll be passing the town of Yungay, which was completely destroyed by the 1970 avalanche killing 20,000 inhabitants.

The road winds up into the valley between Huascaran massif and the Huandoy three-pronged peak. LLanganuco, as the area is known, has the two lakes of Chinancocha and Orconcocha, with turquoise blue waters.

We'll cross LLanganuco at 4,750masl, surrounded by imposing summits of Chopicalqui, the two Huascaran’s peaks, the four Huandoy’s peaks, the two Pisco’s peaks, Chacraraju and Yanapaccha.

Continue on to Vaqueria (3,750masl - meters above sea level). The trek starts with a leisurely walk down towards a trail which makes its way over a small ridge and into the Huaripampa valley. On our way, we´ll be immersed in a green forest, very rich in different kinds of local trees, bushes, mushrooms, moss and lichens.

Overnight in Paria at 3,870masl (Meters above sea level)

Day 2: Paria – Punta Union Pass - Taullipampa

Today is filled with pleasant surprises and great views as we walk through grassy areas and along the Morococha Lakes.

Climbing Inca stone-carved steps, we arrive to Punta Unión Pass (4,750masl).

The panorama of Santa Cruz valley is dominated by the impressive iced walls of Taulliraju above Taullicocha Lake. Also is a good place to recognize some mountain such as Rinrijirca, Quitaraju, Artesonraju.

Our camp site is in Taullipampa at 4,250masl.

Day 3: Taullipampa – Alpamayo Base Camp – LLamacorral

Past the side-valley of Arhuaycocha (with the option to view Mt. Alpamayo), we continue down the Santa Cruz valley. The landscape changes and scree slopes appear on each side of the now marshy meadow, as well as rock boulders fallen from eroded walls above.

Towards the end of the day we walk out of the ever-narrowing canyon into LLamacorral. During the way we are appreciating the Lakes Jatuncocha and Ichiccocha.

Day 4: LLamacorral – Cashapampa – Huaraz

The trail goes down the left ridge of the deep Santa Cruz Valley provides us with opportunities to appreciate various vegetation ecosystems as we pass from areas with high altitude plants to tracts with tropical species such as bromeliads and orchids covering the granite walls.

The rocky silhouette of the Cordillera Negra on the horizon announces our approach to Cashapampa Village (2,900masl), from where we transfer to Huaraz.